Best eFootball Managers
Top Coaches by Playstyle
The best eFootball manager is the one with the highest proficiency for the Team Playstyle you use. Konami says a low proficiency can lower your players' Overall Ratings in the Game Plan, while nationality gives no bonus at all. In the game data from March 2026 the top proficiency is 89, and the managers below reach it.
How Managers Work in eFootball
A manager affects your Dream Team in two official ways, and how you manage your manager list matters too.
Each manager has a proficiency for every Team Playstyle. Konami's FAQ says Overall Ratings in the Game Plan change with the selected playstyle and may drop if the manager's proficiency for it is low.
Some managers carry a Link-up Play with activation conditions on a Centre Piece and a Key Man in your lineup. v6.0.0 added managers with two Link-up Plays.
Managers are signed from the Manager List under [Contract] (GP can be used) or come from Packs. You can hold up to 100 managers since v6.0.0, but released managers cannot be retrieved.
Best Managers for Each Team Playstyle
Every manager entry rated 89, the highest value in the file, for each playstyle. Source: eFootball game data, March 2026. Names are spelled as in the data. Managers added since then, and Overload ratings, are not included because Overload arrived in v6.0.0.
Possession Game
Flick and Koeman are also 88 in Quick Counter; Arteta is 88 in Long Ball Counter.
Quick Counter
Klopp is 89 in both Quick Counter and Possession Game.
Long Ball Counter
Beckenbauer, Capello and Allegri are also 89 in Long Ball.
Out Wide
The playstyle with the most managers at 89 in the data.
Long Ball
The fewest managers at 89 of any playstyle.
Two-playstyle managers are useful if you switch tactics between Events: Klopp (Possession Game and Quick Counter), Guardiola (Possession Game and Out Wide), Xabi Alonso, Rijkaard and Chivu (Quick Counter and Out Wide), Kovac (Long Ball Counter and Out Wide), and Beckenbauer, Capello and Allegri (Long Ball Counter and Long Ball) all sit at 89 in two playstyles.
Managers With Link-up Plays
Of 1,459 managers in the March 2026 data, 16 carried a Link-up Play. Each needs a player with a specific Playing Style in a specific position (the Centre Piece) and a second one (the Key Man).
Need players with the right Playing Style? Browse ratings by position on our eFootball player database or use player analytics.
5 Steps to Signing the Right Manager
Use this whenever you change playstyle or rebuild your squad.
Choose your Team Playstyle first
Decide whether you want Possession Game, Quick Counter, Long Ball Counter, Out Wide, Long Ball or the new Overload. The manager follows from that choice, not the other way round.
Compare proficiency, not reputation
Open the manager in the Manager List and check his proficiency for your playstyle. Konami recommends a manager with higher proficiency for your chosen playstyle.
Check the Game Plan after signing
Look at your players' Overall Ratings in the Game Plan. If they drop compared with My Team, the manager's proficiency for the selected playstyle is likely low (official FAQ).
Read the Link-up Play conditions
If the manager has a Link-up Play, see which Playing Styles and positions it needs. A Link-up Play you cannot meet with your current players adds nothing.
Lock managers you want to keep
Released managers cannot be retrieved. Lock important ones from [My Team] > [Managers], and use the 100 manager slots to keep one per playstyle.
Quick Reference: Your Style, Your Manager
Starting points from the March 2026 data. Always confirm the proficiency shown in-game.
You play: Short passing, keeping the ball
→ Possession Game: Guardiola, Klopp, Cruyff
Guardiola also covers Out Wide; Klopp also covers Quick Counter.
You play: Fast breaks after winning the ball
→ Quick Counter: Xabi Alonso, Mourinho, Rijkaard
Xabi Alonso and Rijkaard are also 89 in Out Wide.
You play: Wingers and crosses
→ Out Wide: Amorim, Chivu, Gattuso
Amorim and Chivu both carry Aggressive Centring A (Cross Specialist + Fox in the Box).
You play: Defend deep, go direct
→ Long Ball Counter / Long Ball: Capello, Allegri, Beckenbauer
All three are 89 in both long-ball playstyles.
You play: High press, overloads on the ball side
→ Overload (v6.0.0)
Not in our March 2026 data. Check each manager's Overload proficiency in-game.
Want an Account That Already Has Your Manager?
As of October 2026, eFootball Market had 77 accounts listed, with a median asking price of $100 and the middle half between $55 and $210. Check each listing's screenshots for the managers you want. Your payment is held in escrow and released to the seller only after you have secured the account and confirmed it matches; if it does not, open a dispute for admin review.
Account trading breaks Konami's Terms of Use. Escrow protects your money, not the account's standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do managers work in eFootball?
Every manager has a proficiency rating for each Team Playstyle. Konami advises using a manager with high proficiency for the playstyle you choose, and its FAQ says players' Overall Ratings in the Game Plan can drop if the proficiency is low. Some managers also carry Link-up Plays, which activate when players with specific Playing Styles stand in specific positions.
Who is the best manager in eFootball 2026?
There is no single best manager, because proficiency is per playstyle. In the game data from March 2026 the top proficiency is 89. Managers rated 89 in two playstyles include Jurgen Klopp (Possession Game and Quick Counter), Pep Guardiola (Possession Game and Out Wide), Xabi Alonso, Frank Rijkaard and Cristian Chivu (Quick Counter and Out Wide), Niko Kovac (Long Ball Counter and Out Wide), and F. Beckenbauer, Fabio Capello and M. Allegri (Long Ball Counter and Long Ball).
Does manager nationality give a bonus in eFootball?
No. eFootball has no manager-nationality bonus and no chemistry or Team Spirit system. A manager helps your team through his Team Playstyle proficiency and, if he has one, his Link-up Play.
How do I sign a manager in eFootball?
Go to [Contract] and open the Manager List, where Konami says you can sign managers who excel in different tactical setups. GP can be used to sign managers, and some managers also appear in Packs. Prices are shown in-game and change with what is on offer, so we do not list them here.
Can I change or keep several managers?
Yes. Version 6.0.0 raised the maximum number of manager slots to 100, so you can keep a manager for each playstyle and switch in the Game Plan. Be careful when releasing: Konami's FAQ says released managers cannot be retrieved. You can lock a manager from [My Team] > [Managers] to avoid releasing him by mistake.
Which managers are best for the new Overload playstyle?
Overload was added in v6.0.0 in autumn 2026, after our game data snapshot from March 2026, so we cannot list Overload proficiency ratings yet. Check the proficiency shown on each manager in-game before signing one for Overload.
Why do my players lose rating when I change manager?
Konami's FAQ says Overall Ratings change depending on the Team Playstyle selected in the Game Plan, and can decrease if the manager has low proficiency for it. A new manager may be weaker at your current playstyle. Either switch the playstyle to one he is good at or use a manager rated higher for it.